Communications device with remote device identifier recognition and transmission in accordance with the recognized identifier

• US 6,061,502 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biscom Incorporated
• Inventors: Wang, Yaun-Kong, Agudelo, William, Mainemer, Carlos I., Ho, Shu-Kuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,643
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 358/402, 358/403, 358/434, 358/435, 358/436, 358/437, 358/438, 358/440, 358/442, 358/468, 395/114, 379/93.24, 379/93.31, 379/100.08, 709/200, 709/207, 709/220, 709/230, 709/238, 709/239, 709/240
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex

Abstract

A communications device transmits and receives information in accordance with both facsimile and electronic mail communications protocols. The communications device recognizes a destination identifier, identifying a remote communications device as either a facsimile device or an e-mail device and transmits a document in accordance with the communications protocol utilized by the identified device. The communications device also allows the retrieval of electronic mail messages stored at a remote electronic mailbox. A user enters an electronic mail address, from which messages are desired to be retrieved, and presses a Retrieve button. The communications device initiates communication with an electronic post office corresponding to the entered electronic mail address and causes transmission of electronic mail messages stored in the specified mailbox.

Claims

1. A communications device comprising:

a modem which transmits data in accordance with a facsimile transmission protocol and in accordance with an electronic mail protocol and receives data in accordance with a facsimile receive protocol and in accordance with a electronic mail protocol;

a scanner which generates digital data indicative of information on a printed medium which contains information for transmission to a remote communications device;

an information entry device for entry of information designating a destination for transmission of said information contained on said printed medium; and

a controller programmed to recognize said designating destination as identifying a telephone number for causing transmission of said digital data in accordance with a facsimile transmission protocol to a facsimile device identified by said telephone number and programmed to recognize said designating destination as identifying an electronic mail address for causing transmission of said digital data in accordance with an electronic mail transmission protocol to an electronic mailbox identified by said electronic mail address,

said controller further recognizing a command requesting retrieval of a listing of electronic mail messages from a specified electronic mail address and initiating communication with a remote communications device corresponding to said specified electronic mail address to cause transmission of a list of all messages from the specified electronic mail address and causing transmission of the identity of one or more messages among a received listing to retrieve a requested electronic message.